A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people [1, 2, 3].
The disaster has caused widespread structural failure in several departments, prompting a massive rescue operation to locate survivors trapped under collapsed buildings.
The quake hit at approximately 7:00 local time on 10 August 2026 [1, 2]. The seismic activity primarily impacted the Risaralda department and the city of Cali in Valle del Cauca [1, 2].
President Alberto de la Espriella said the death toll has reached 111 [1]. According to the president, the Risaralda department has seen 42 deaths [1]. In the city of Manizales, officials said there were three deaths [1].
Earlier reports from YTN indicated a lower minimum of 18 deaths in a single city [2], but the total has risen sharply as rescue teams reach more remote municipalities. Authorities said the number of casualties will continue to increase as search efforts expand.
The magnitude-7.4 tremor [1] caused significant damage to infrastructure across the region. Emergency crews are currently working to clear debris from residential and commercial zones to find missing residents.
Local officials said the timing of the quake—occurring early in the morning—likely influenced the casualty rate as many people were still inside their homes [1, 2].
“A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people.”
The high death toll relative to the magnitude suggests significant vulnerabilities in local building codes and infrastructure in western Colombia. Because the earthquake struck during early morning hours, the concentration of people indoors likely exacerbated the collapse casualties, placing an immediate and severe strain on the region's emergency response capabilities.
